UCLA Owns Northridge in 2 OT

What began as a dream come true ended up as a nightmare for Cal State Northridge.

The biggest victory in school history was stripped away because of time keeping error, allowing sixth-ranked UCLA to beat the Matadors, 2-1, on an own goal in double overtime in a physical MPSF opener Friday night in front of 3,217 at North Campus Stadium.

“I’m disappointed,” said Coach Terry Davila of Northridge. “We played our hearts out. I’m proud of the boys. They fought for each other. They showed love for each other.”

Northridge had the Bruins beaten, but the time keeper ruined the Matadors’ hopes of a victory in regulation.

The clock failed to start for more than 40 seconds at the start of the second half. Then with the clock at 89:02 the operator goofed again, causing the referee to ask for 39 seconds to be added.

The extra time was just enough for the Bruins (8-1) to score and send the game into overtime.

McKinley Tennyson Jr. tied the game, 1-1, with 46 seconds left in the match when he one-touched a cross from Shea Travis into the net.

“I knew we had to score,” Tennyson said. “If I didn’t we gave them the win.”

Even worse for Northridge (6-5), UCLA scored on an own goal by a Northridge defender to win the game in the 113th minute.

Northridge players refused to comment on the misuse of the game clock, but tears and frustration illustrated how they felt.

“An own goal based on 30 shots on goal,” Coach Todd Saldana of UCLA said. “You make your own opportunities. We didnt come to play until we were down a goal.

“Credit to Northridge. They played the best game they will probably play all year.”

The Bruins won their sixth consecutive game to snap the Matadors’ four-game winning streak.

An aggressive Matador defense smothered the high powered Bruins throughout the game.

Christian Perez of Northridge made a career-high 14 saves.

The Matadors took a 1-0 lead in the 32nd minute when scored when Federico Arroyo scored his fifth goal of the season. Arroyo one-touched a pass from Greg Avila that struck the crossbar, bounced down to the goal-line and into the goal.

Arroyo’s goal was the first the Matadors scored against the Bruins since Oct. 23, 1992, and just their fourth goal ever against UCLA.

The crowd was the fourth largest to see at game at Northridge and the largest since Dec. 3, 1988 when 4,164 watched a game against Oakland University.

Northridge plays at No. 22 Cal State Fullerton on Sunday.